Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 149

11/03/2026

Unions are important to our communities because Union members are part of our communities! The ECI AFL-CIO supports the School District Referendums in both Champaign and Mahomet-Seymour. These School Districts have Project Labor Agreements which ensure that the highest standards will be set by the Building Trades.

Find out more about the Referendums on each School District's website and Vote Early or on November 3rd!

10/27/2026

🇺🇸 VOTE "YES" TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOLS - AND UNIONS! 🇺🇸

If you live in the Unit 4 or Mahomet-Seymour school districts, there is a referendum question on your ballot.
A "YES" vote not only supports your schools, but will also mean support for unions like ours, as new construction will mean job opportunities.
VOTE YES ON YOUR SCHOOL REFERENDUM!

Unions are important to our communities because Union members are part of our communities! The ECI AFL-CIO supports the School District Referendums in both Champaign and Mahomet-Seymour. These School Districts have Project Labor Agreements which ensure that the highest standards will be set by the Building Trades.

Find out more about the Referendums on each School District's website and Vote Early or on November 3rd!

10/22/2026

“I have always advocated for a program like this. Once I became a member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 149, I made it my mission to spread the word to every young man and woman willing to listen.”
Troy Lewis has been a strong member of UA Local 149 since 2012 and we are proud that he is being recognized for his role with the East Central Illinois Building And Construction Trades Council's pre-apprentice program.
When he wraps up his workday at the University of Illinois, he provides hands-on instruction to pre-apprentices who are working to earn opportunities with unions like ours.
Congratulations, Brother Lewis!

09/14/2026

⛳Thank you to everyone who came out for our annual golf outing! ⛳

The event raises funds for our relief fund, which provides support for our members and their families who may be out of work or facing unexpected medical expenses or emergencies.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors and congratulations to the foursome “Team Barnes” for earning 1st place, followed by “Team Medbery” and “Team Fasteners.” Longest drive went to Kyle Coburn, longest putt to Bill Stewart and closest to the pin was Damian Light.

Click here for full galleries of our golfers and sponsors!
https://ualocal149.com/en/album/view-gallery/55516?album_id=3903

09/11/2026

On this solemn day, we remember and honor the lives of those we lost in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago on September 11, 2001, including UA members Felix Calixte, Thomas Kelly, and Arturo Sereno.

We are reminded that even in our darkest moments, Americans come together as one nation.

09/07/2026

The parade route might have changed, but Champaign County’s support for labor never does!
Thank you to everyone who came out for today’s parade and celebration in the park and special thanks to East Central Illinois Afl-Cio and United Way of Champaign County for organizing such a great family event!

09/04/2026

We hope everyone enjoys the long holiday weekend - and as you shop for your backyard cookout with family and friends, remember to look for products made by union members! ✊

09/03/2026

Join us at the Labor Day parade and picnic on Monday, as we celebrate all that unions have done for our workplaces and community.

The parade begins at Main and Chestnut at 11 a.m., going through downtown Champaign before ending at Neil & Washington.
We’ll then continue the celebration at 12pm at Neil Street Plaza, with food, games, bouncy houses, music and much more.

We appreciate the East Central Illinois Afl-Cio and United Way of Champaign County for their hard work to make this such a great family event!

08/31/2026

We were proud to see Nick Pitts, a plumber at the University of Illinois Facilities & Services, and Travis Swope, a pipefitter at Eastern Illinois University's Facilities Planning & Management, recognized on the front page of today’s News-Gazette, after their recent graduation from the United Association’s Instructor Training Program!

The 5-year program focuses on trade-specific teaching, but also things like lesson planning and understanding different learning styles, better positioning them to teach the next generation of union members.

“Teaching has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in the trade,” Pitts said, while Swope said “It’s an experience I wouldn’t change for the world. It made me a better individual and definitely a better instructor.”

Congratulations to Nick and Travis!
(Find the link to the article in our comments)

08/24/2026

We were proud to represent hundreds of union members across East Central Illinois at the 41st annual United Association General Convention – focusing on new training programs, organizing activities, updates to union bylaws and elections of new officers.

Local 149 Executive Board member Ryan Hausle, Recording Secretary Travis Swope, Business Agent Kevin Sage, Business Manager Charlie Deakin, President Terry Bagwell, Training Director Derek Reedy and Vice President Ron Hagan brought back information for members that will make our union even stronger.

As AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told the convention:
“You look around this city or any city – so much of what we do could not happen without the folks in this room. Our hospitals, schools and factories. Our power plants and manufacturing facilities. The data centers that are powering this new economy. The water systems, and energy infrastructure, and buildings that keep all of it running. The men and women of the UA are behind it all.” ✊